Let’s face it, we are living in uncertain times and the situation is changing by the day. Everywhere, borders are closing and governments are halting unnecessary travel from country to country and even province to province, but one thing remains; you can support Canmore businesses while social distancing.
Closer to home, businesses have been forced to close their doors to the public, and over 85% of small-town staff have been laid off in a response to the pandemic. This is a dire situation, leaving local business owners scrambling to make things work during this unpredictable time. While everyone is ‘busy’ at home social distancing, the stores we would all normally frequent are closed along with our wallets. We are all living on tight budgets and quarters, but that doesn’t mean we cannot support Canmore local businesses while social distancing. There are ways that we as a small community can secure the futures of our local small businesses and help them shine in these dark and uncertain times.
1. Buy gift cards
Most businesses in town offer gift cards or gift certificates. Purchasing a gift card for later can go a long way to helping a business look ahead to a future where they are able to open their doors to the public once again. As a small, likely family-owned business that relies on foot traffic to keep things running smoothly, gift cards purchased now for later can go a long way.
2. Order supplies online
Let’s be real here, we all still need to eat and practice hygiene rituals (yes, we mean deodorant and brushing your hair). It is true, the local grocery stores and pharmacies are still open, but we want you to consider avoiding the crowds and purchase your products or other supplies from a local independent business instead. Here are a few local options:
- Natural products by O’Canada Soapworks and Rocky Mountain Soap
- Groceries from Rusticana and Rusty’s Box
- Pre-made foods from restaurants like Murrieta’s and Santa Lucia
- Fresh bread from Uprising Bakery or your favourite focaccia from BellaCrusta
- Clothing (for lounging) from Indigo Bay, Toccata for Her, Valhalla and Unlimited Skate and Snow
- Shoes from Shoes tBoot
3. Learn to cook (or not)
Most of us now have a lot of time on our hands which we didn’t have before. That means it is time to get your hands dirty and finally learn how to cook, or at least make some semblance of a meal for yourself. Rusticana is offering grocery boxes, and all you have to do is pop onto Pinterest and find yourself a recipe, and you’ll be as good as Jamie Oliver in no time. If you’re not quite ready to take meal planning into your own hands, check out restaurants and others like Grizzly Paw or JK Bakery for meal prep services. Plus, the new kid on the block – Make In Tonite – is a Bow Valley-wide virtual cooking class featuring the star chefs of the Bow Valley. Residents can RSVP on the Make In Tonite website and pick up their ingredient boxes from Rusticana, and tune in to make a delicious dinner alongside chefs from throughout the Bow Valley.
4. Keep moving
Most of us in Canmore couldn’t even fathom going a day without exercise before, and now it is increasingly important to get moving and keep your endorphins up so you don’t fall into a slump. We are lucky to have so many awesome health and fitness businesses in town, and the good news is most of them have risen to the challenge and taken their classes online!
5. Make the switch to sustainable
With the lack of toilet paper, kleenex and paper towel, there is no better time to move your family to a more sustainable rate of consumption. There are plenty of ways to scale back your home consumption, and the good news is Bear Minimum Canmore is opening up this week with online checkout, delivery, and curbside pickup options.
- Cloth or flannel face pads to replace cotton
- Consider using a sprayer or bidet instead of toilet paper
- K-Cloths instead of paper towel
6. Outfit your remote workspace
Get comfy and cozy, and set up a dedicated area to be your at-home workspace where you won’t be interrupted and where you are comfortable enough to work all day long. Most household chairs and tables aren’t meant to be workstations, so getting a proper chair and desk can effectively increase your productivity.
7. Be your own barista
All of the local cafes are closed to the public, from Bicycle Cafe Canmore all the way down the street to Eclipse Coffee Roasters. The good news is that you are perfectly capable of making yourself that extra hot oat milk cappuccino at home in your pajamas.
- Chemex coffee maker from Bicycle Cafe Canmore
- Tea by Canmore Tea Company
- Beans from any of the local coffee shops
- Grinders and more from TinBox and Kitchen Boutique
- Syrups and shelf-stable barista non-dairy milk from Beamers
8. Practice self-care
We are bombarded with so much negativity on a daily basis, it can seriously affect our body, mind, and soul. Now, more than ever, we need to practice self-care regimens so that we can do our best to keep an upbeat outlook on our current situation and give ourselves the attention we need and deserve. You can kill two birds with one stone here: support yourself, and support Canmore.
9. Start a hobby (or find one to distract your kids)
With schools closing and offices going remote, we can all see there has been an increase in the number of things/people competing for attention. What’s more, is that it might be a while before we can escape the chaos and return to our cycling club or art class. We suggest trying something new or return to something you just haven’t had time for. Trust us, you won’t regret it when you become the next Bob Ross!
10. Reach out
We have all built relationships with some of the small business owners where we usually shop in town, and now is the time to reach out and ask what they need right now. If you’re a business owner too, stick together and support Canmore, your neighbors, community, and friends. Think of businesses who have moved to an online business model, and the online community we are fostering as one big self-sustaining Downtown Canmore.
- Hope For Hospitality
- Canmore Soup For The Soul – The Malcolm Hotel
- Food and Friends Community Dinner – St. Michaels
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